best tools for digging bamboo?

bonkersinbrighton

best tools for digging bamboo?

Post by bonkersinbrighton »

I broke 3 forks digging up a clients bamboo this morning :evil:

I have just ordered another one from wolf so at least it is guaranteed for ten years. icon_thumleft

Could anyone please advise me on what is the best equipment to use for this purpose in the future? If I break them at this rate I will end up making no money and will be left with no tools pretty quick. :roll:

thanks in advance icon_salut
Conifers
Posts: 13147
Joined: Sat Jun 20, 2009 2:11 pm
Location: Northumbs

Re: best tools for digging bamboo?

Post by Conifers »

A heavy-duty pickaxe or mattock. The sort used for breaking up rocks.
bonkersinbrighton

Re: best tools for digging bamboo?

Post by bonkersinbrighton »

OK Thanks Conifers any suggestions as to what make is light enough to be used by a small(ish) female :lol:
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karl66
Posts: 2646
Joined: Mon Jul 11, 2011 6:39 pm
Location: halesowen. west midlands

Re: best tools for digging bamboo?

Post by karl66 »

Depending on access & type of boo's the 3 main tool's I use are a Newcastle spade, a long handled vertical chopper & best of all a recipicating saw with a 300mm blade, cuts through like a knife in butter!!, it all depend's on whether your removing to get rid of in which case it's easier as you can go like a bull at a gate!, if your removing to sell or grow on then it takes more time as pulling up a few inches of root will not sustain a bamboo that's a few metres tall. karl.
huporhaha

Re: best tools for digging bamboo?

Post by huporhaha »

An underground chainsaw................????? :oops:
bonkersinbrighton

Re: best tools for digging bamboo?

Post by bonkersinbrighton »

Yes unfortunately Karl I was digging several 2 meter across clumps so she could replant at new house after she had moved. Thanks for your suggestions.
I have another lot to do later in the week and again they are wanting to relocate at least some of it rather than binning it :roll: this morning made me very pleased that I have kept all of mine in pots.
Maybe I should just charge for broken equipment on top when doing bamboo :wink:
bonkersinbrighton

Re: best tools for digging bamboo?

Post by bonkersinbrighton »

Great idea huporhaha where can I get one?
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
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karl66
Posts: 2646
Joined: Mon Jul 11, 2011 6:39 pm
Location: halesowen. west midlands

Re: best tools for digging bamboo?

Post by karl66 »

Growing small clumping boo's in pots is fine but if you want stunning specimens & healthy one's then pot's are crappe! & need constant attention, watering in summer/protecting from freezing in winter. I would not recommend putting a chainsaw anywhere near the ground as it will just clog up & knacker!!, the idea with a recipicating saw is two cut around the edges, finish off with a sharp handsaw & then lever out with a trenching shovel, I've done it to lots of mine although i'm not sure how easy it would be after 10 years or more!!. karl.
bonkersinbrighton

Re: best tools for digging bamboo?

Post by bonkersinbrighton »

You are right Karl you don't get nearly as nice an effect when they are in pots and the culms never seem to get as big icon_thumbdown but if it saves me the hassle when I move it may be a sacrifice worth making.
Neil Ziemski

Re: best tools for digging bamboo?

Post by Neil Ziemski »

You want an iron grafter
All one piece, you won't break one of these
I always use one when digging up plants including bamboo
Neil
Neil Ziemski

Re: best tools for digging bamboo?

Post by Neil Ziemski »

http://www.efcfencing.com/index.php/48- ... after.html
Here's a link to one
Springy

Re: best tools for digging bamboo?

Post by Springy »

Neil Ziemski wrote:http://www.efcfencing.com/index.php/48- ... after.html
Here's a link to one
Yep that's the tool to use!! I use one on a daily basis at work and once you get the hang of using one, it chops through most things! icon_thumleft
bonkersinbrighton

Re: best tools for digging bamboo?

Post by bonkersinbrighton »

great thanks Neil that certainly looks robust it will defiantly be on my wish list :D
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The Codfather
Posts: 6436
Joined: Tue Sep 07, 2010 6:02 pm
Location: Darlington, C.O. Durham

Re: best tools for digging bamboo?

Post by The Codfather »

I used a spit to dig out my sassa......
AKA - Martin

Wish list - Big Palms or Dicksonia antarctica's but open to anything really.....Cash Waiting !
Dim

Re: best tools for digging bamboo?

Post by Dim »

a bottle of roundup

then 3 weeks later an old fashioned garden fork after you have soaked the ground with a hose
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